The More Things
Change.... 01-23-17
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 (ESV) 9 What has been is
what will be, and what has been done is what will be
done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a
thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before
us.
"......the more they remain the same..."
Isn't that the way the saying goes? I get daily posts from an Internet group
that is made up of folks that went to Fulton High School. I rarely reply,but I
do enjoy keeping up with the lives of a lot of old friends and
classmates. Anyway,a few days ago I got a post of a senior picture of my sister
who graduated from Fulton in 19??. I copied it and with the help of my computer
literate wife was able to email the picture to Betty.It was her simple reply
that birthed this post. She simply said"sure have changed." And that set me to
thinking.
On my first day(Saturday past) driving a
KAT bus on my own,I came face to face with hundreds of people marching down Gay
Street. I was forced to pull over at the corner where the Bijou theatre is for
all you Knoxvillians out there. I was then directed by police to go straight
which was off route and whatnot. I had to get on the radio and tell base of my
position and whatnot. Not too much for a veteran bus driver,but a little
disconcerting for a rookie of one day.At the next corner I was forced to wait
about 15 minutes to let the protesters cross the intersection where I was to
turn. As I waited and watched all the sign waving and shouting,my mind went back
to the days of my generation. The 60's were rife with a spirit of rebellion and
protest. Heck,as an 18 year old skull full of mush teenager, I may have
participated in a march or two. Long time ago.(smile)
Anyway,as I read early this rainy morn of
all the events and stuff that happened over this weekend;and thought about what
my sweet sister had said,the above verse popped into my 66 year old skull full
of mush. There is nothing new under the sun. And then it hit me.There is ONE
thing that SURELY changes with time. And that would be ME. That would be
YOU.That would be US! As I looked at my sister's senior picture and then at
mine, I realized the truth of what God says in His Word. And herein lieth the
lesson.
James 4:13-14 (ESV) 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or
tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade
and make a profit”—
14 yet you do not
know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that
appears for a little time and then vanishes.
The KJV says our lives are as "vapors"
Brothers and sisters,if Jesus tarries for
another thousand years,men and women,boys and girls,will be taking to the
streets,the airwaves,the media to protest one or another of the many injustices
that we as human beings perpetrate on one another. As surely as the sun rises
tomorrow,people will also rise and go about whatever it is that they do on a
daily basis. And rest assured,injustices,real and perceived,will be debated and
protested from now on. It remains the same. But,BUT...
You and I will not remain the same! When
I was eighteen years old,I thought that I would live forever. Getting and being
old never entered my consciousness. The only thoughts of my mortality and death
were upon learning of the demise of a loved one or of someone that I knew. Those
thoughts vanished as instantly as they had arisen. You getting my drift here?
Staring eternity in the face was NOT something on my agenda.It was not something
I did.
Aahhh...but now...like a mist....like a
vapor from a spray bottle... my life has passed before me. I am now approaching
eternity with the Lord Jesus and His Word suddenly becoming VERY RELEVANT!! You
feelin' me here?
As I watched those protesters march the
other day,and as I thought upon my sister's profound response, the verse in
Ecclesiastes crossed my lips.A new President,
to the chagrin of many and the delight of
many others,has been duly elected and inaugurated. But,today in about two hours,
I will put on my KAT uniform and go drive a bus for eight hours. You also will
go about your daily routine,mostly unaffected by the drama of the weekend.
Nothing will really change in our lives as a result. It will mostly be business
as usual. The only real and lasting change that you and I will experience is the
fact that we both will be one day closer to meeting the Lord Jesus Christ,face
to face.He,Jesus,is the only TRUE constant that we have isn't He? The ROCK of
our salvation.
In an age,like all other ages that is
clothed in discord,dissension,and controversy let us take pause.Let us consider
the only material change that is taking place on this earth. That being the
change that is taking place in us. You and me.While considering that TRUTH,maybe
we all,YOU and ME should take pause and spend a little time upon those Words
written many,many moons ago.
Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) 8 Jesus Christ is
the same yesterday and today and forever.
The only thing that changes is US!!While
we spend some time with those words,we just might want to spend a little time
with the Author.Amen?
Psalm 111:10 (ESV) 10 The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
God Bless
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